by Pastor Cecil | Sep 5, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 43:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Have you ever received one of those notices from the friendly folks at your bank informing you that there is a deficit in your checking account and you need to take action immediately or dire action will follow?
It is very easy for us to feel overwhelmed by circumstance. As a result, we spend far too much time wallowing around in self-pity or complaining that life is so hard we can hardly stand it.
When I read today’s Scripture, I visualize a group of athletes getting set for their event. You can see each of them pausing and even see their lips moving as they tell themselves that they can do it. It will require their very best, but they can do it.
Sometimes we need to give ourselves a pep talk. To others it may appear that we are talking to ourselves, and in fact I guess that is what it is. But as we read this passage in Psalm 43:5, it is a clear picture of the Psalmist talking to himself. He is distressed. His dauber is in the mud, so to speak. He is trying to shake his own shoulders and wake up spiritually. He gives himself as well as us the answer: “But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). That, Dear Heart, is how to overcome a PRAISE DEFICIT.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 29, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
There is one stanza from Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade in which he borrowed heavily from Psalm 23:4: “Forward, the Light Brigade! Was there a man dismay’d? Not (though) the soldiers knew, Someone had blundered: Theirs not to make reply; Theirs not to reason why; Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.”
Why do true believers have to endure pain, sorrow, and loss in this old sin-sick world? Perhaps the answer is found at the beginning of the book of Job where Satan asserts that the only reason Job was so righteous was because God had protected and prospered him.
If that was true in Job’s day, it stands to reason that such accusations still ring out today not just in the courts of heaven, but in the heart of some cynical unbeliever who might accuse the believer in trusting God because it might insure an easy life.
That has not been the case in the past and it is not the case today. We may suffer pain and sorrow just as much as others. The difference we need to remember is that this world is not our home. Our ultimate home is in heaven, and the things we suffer here on earth will seem insignificant when we get home.
As Tennyson wrote, we can enter the Valley of Death with great confidence—we know what is waiting for us on the other side! Hold on dear child, joy comes in the morning!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 21, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 118:22-24
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
From time to time I have experienced harsh rejection, but nothing remotely compared to the rejection Jesus encountered. It started with snide remarks and innuendos. Comments became accusations with no basis, so it was hard to endure. Have you ever been there? False statements were made and I suddenly found myself feeling like an animal being pursued by hunters ready for the kill.
My reason for writing about it is to give you a hope and a confidence. Even though you may be rejected by men, you are never rejected by our heavenly Father. Jesus experienced the rejection of the religious leaders of His day, and many of us experience rejection in our life. My desire is to offer some encouragement when we face rejection.
When we encounter rejection in our lives—whether in the home, at church, at work, or wherever it may be—turn it over to the Lord. Write down on paper what you are encountering and present it to Him in prayer. Keep your eyes fixed steadfastly upon Him and know that He will never, ever reject you.
I pray that there may be one or two of you out there who are able to relate to this, and I hope that this will be God’s way of sending you assurance. I had those who gave me assurance during my ordeal and it was a blessing. Since God has given us this day—BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 16, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Our family has a Bible reading program that takes us through the Bible twice a year. This particular program takes us through the book of Psalms twice. It is absolutely astounding that David mentions the storms of life so many times. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
His predecessor, King Saul, was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised the Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying,
“Make Me your choice”;
And I entered the “Haven of Rest”!
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The “Haven of Rest” is my Lord.
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have
A home in the “Haven of Rest.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the “Haven of Rest.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
And say, “My Beloved is mine.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
Be sure to check out PastorCecil.com
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Do you ever talk to yourself? How many times have you done something that causes pain and start asking why you did something so stupid? When you come to a particularly difficult situation, do you encourage yourself with a few words of encouragement?
The more hopeless a situation appears, the more we need to place our HOPE in the Lord. It is important for us to understand that there will be situations in life that will strike us like a bolt of lightning. The question is how do we respond when everything seems hopeless?
The man who penned the words of this Psalm must have been experiencing a frustrating situation. He even repeats the same words of verse 5 in verse 11. Even while facing a depressing time in his life, he had enough sense to talk to himself about the reality of God being in control.
How about you? Are you ready to talk some sense into your head? Do not let the grind of life keep you from calling upon the Lord. There is HOPE dear friend, and that hope is Jesus Christ who gives us the victory!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 24, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 112:1-3
Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in His house, and His righteousness endures forever.
When I was a young boy my father worked for a time as a bus driver. From time to time my mother and I would drive the ten miles to the bus depot and pick dad up after his shift was over.
One of these trips changed my life in a remarkable way. As my mom and I were sitting in the parking lot waiting for dad’s bus to arrive, we saw a young black boy about my age standing waiting for the city bus. He was holding a large ceramic platter, which he was clutching with great care.
My mom kept urging me to go and ask him about the plate he held so lovingly. This white boy (me) had never met and talked with a black boy before. I had no idea how he would respond to me. I finally gave in to her prompting and hesitantly went over and introduced myself. In just a few minutes the color of our skin faded into insignificance—we were just two young boys who were having fun talking with each other.
He told me that he had won the platter at a local amusement park. He could hardly wait to get home so he could give it to his mother. He spoke of his deep love for his mother. I was drawn into his world and felt his eager anticipation to present this trophy of love to his dear mother.
Our reverential love for the Lord is so much more than any earthly love that words can never fully express it. We may express our love and awesome respect for the Lord here on earth, but our humanity can never truly express the honor and praise the Lord deserves. What joy it will be to lay our crowns at Jesus’ feet! I can hardly wait for that day.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
